Puzzle game based on a method of transmutation of alpha-numeric characters&#39; shapes.

ABSTRACT

A puzzle game, based on transmutation of the alpha-numeric characters&#39; shapes, is disclosed in this invention. The puzzle game includes: (a) a plurality of the game pieces representing characters of the alphabet (b) a plurality of game pieces representing the plurality of transmuted graphical shapes between adjacent characters of the alphabet; (c) a method to verify that the puzzle is solved correctly.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION

I have invented a puzzle game that is based on transmutation of the alpha-numeric characters' shapes. In the transmutation method the adjacent characters of alpha-numeric text are replaced by a sequence of intermediate graphical shapes. In the puzzle, each puzzle piece is provided with an image of a said shape, and the object of the puzzle is to sequentially arrange the game pieces to form a message or define some specified alphabetic or numeric order.

Certain puzzles of this type employ pieces of different sizes and shapes. On some puzzles of this type, the various puzzle pieces are formed with interlocking arrays of tongues and grooves or interlocking arrays of stepped edges to prevent the various puzzle pieces from becoming disengaged from the planar support.

It is an object of the subject invention to create an intriguing puzzle employing a plurality of pieces.

It is another object of the subject invention to provide a puzzle having a plurality of rectangular pieces.

A further object of the subject invention is to provide a single puzzle having a plurality of rectangular pieces and providing a plurality of separate puzzle games exhibiting varying degrees of difficulty and providing the user with a plurality of distinctly different challenges.

It is yet another object of the subject invention to create a puzzle that employs a computer to generate puzzle pieces on a computer display.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,794 by Von Hagen (issued Dec. 24, 1991) “Sequencing puzzle”

A puzzle for teaching the sequence of a series of elements as number or letters.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/917,818 by Olchevski et al. (filed Oct. 12, 2004, projected publication date Jul. 21, 2005) “The method of transmutation of alpha-numeric characters and the data handling system”

The patent application discloses a method and a system to produce an animated stream of transmuted alpha-numeric characters' shapes to deliver information to a reader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustration 1. Samples of transmutations of the shapes of several letters: FIG. 1. “a” to “b” FIG. 2. “C” to “d” FIG. 3. “E” to “F”

Illustration 2. A sequence of transmutations of the characters of the Latin alphabet from A to Z (Capital letters only), with 4 transitional shapes/transmuted characters' shapes per every pair of adjacent characters.

Illustration 3. Sample of a message “BOARD GAME” written as a sequence of transmuted characters' shapes, with 4 transitional shapes per every pair of adjacent characters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the prevailing forms of information recording is alpha-numeric. Evidently, shapes of written alpha-numeric characters evolved in such ways as to facilitate the ease and speed of writing and the ease and speed of reading. The paper was and still is one of the most popular forms of storage of information. One of the consequences of this method is that, when the ink dries, characters become permanently embedded in paper. Although, a single character is very small, the combined amount of recorded (written and printed) information takes an enormous amount of space to store it.

With creation of electronic means of storage, stored information is measured in kilobytes and megabytes and not in units of the shelf space. For the first time, functions and means of information storage have been detached from functions and means of information delivery. It takes one CD to store contents of hundreds of books and the technology pushes the limit of storage density every year. Yet, the output of information or, in another words, information delivery, still employs the same method as millennia ago: the characters are printed/displayed together to form words with spaces on word boundaries. It still takes exactly the same amount of physical space, either on paper or on screen, to deliver the information, that is stored electronically, to its reader.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method, that the present invention is based upon, employs transmutation of the shapes of alpha-numeric characters as a way to “connect” the individual characters of a single word when displayed in overlaid fashion.

In the transmutation method, pairs of said characters are replaced by a multitude of intermediate graphical shapes. See Illustration 1 that shows transmutation of lower case letter “a” to lower case letter “b” (FIG. 1), upper case letter “C” to lower case letter “d” (FIG. 2) and upper case letter “E” to upper case letter “F” (FIG. 3). When said shapes are displayed in overlaid fashion, one after another, they create an animated (transmuted) image of the original alpha-numeric message. In order for the human mind to interpret the transmuted message as a smooth and uninterrupted process, sufficient number of intermediate graphical shapes needs to be displayed over a period of time (for example, 24 shapes per second). The resulting effect is similar to the animation effect of the motion picture. During such animation, a person will see the characters smoothly transmuting (or changing, or turning, or morphing) into each other, with the exception of the first characters of every word.

Transmutation method is going to be employed in many applications in the future. The puzzle game illustrates the said method and educates the players of its use. It shows the characters of the alphabet not as separate and individual entities that have nothing in common, but as parts of dynamic informational stream. Although, we study letters and sounds individually, in the process of reading or speech they are always interconnected. The present invention allows to visualize that connection.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a puzzle game that introduces the method of transmutation of alpha-numeric characters in its static form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The puzzle game could be played on any planar surface. The game pieces may be constructed of paper, cardboard, wood, plastic or any similar material. The game pieces are preferably square, but may be of any desired shape such as circular or rectangular, or they could be made in shape of the characters that they represent. The game pieces may have tongues and grooves or interlocking arrays of stepped edges to prevent the various puzzle pieces from becoming disengaged from the planar support.

There are 26 game pieces that carry images of the characters of the Latin alphabet on its top surface.

There is a plurality of game pieces that carry the images of transmuted characters. In the preferred embodiment, with 4 transitional/transmuted character shapes between every adjacent character of the Latin alphabet, there are 100 game pieces that carry images of transmuted characters. Thus, the complete game set, in the preferred embodiment, consists of 126 game pieces in total. See Illustration 2 that shows Capital letters of the Latin alphabet with 4 transmuted character shapes between every adjacent character of the alphabet.

In one embodiment, for playing more difficult game, with 11 transitional/transmuted characters shapes between every adjacent character of the Latin alphabet, there are 275 game pieces that carry images of transmuted characters. Thus, the complete game set, in one embodiment, consists of 301 game pieces in total.

In another embodiment, for playing easier game, with 1 transitional/transmuted characters shapes between every adjacent character of the Latin alphabet, there are 25 game pieces that carry images of transmuted characters. Thus, the complete game set, in another embodiment, consists of 51 game pieces in total.

In yet another embodiment, for playing different game, a phrase consisting of several words needs to be laid out in a proper sequence of transmuted characters shapes. See Illustration 3 that shows a phrase “BOARD GAME” with 4 transmuted character shapes between every adjacent letter. There are 37 game pieces in total for this particular phrase.

The present invention is not limited to the characters of the Latin alphabet. It also applies to every writing system that uses alphabetic characters (Cyrillic, Greek, Hebrew, etc)

To solve the puzzle, a player has to arrange all the game pieces in a manner where the transmuted characters are laid out in correct sequences between every character of the Latin alphabet.

As a way to verify that the puzzle is solved correctly, a sheet of paper with a printed image showing a complete puzzle is included in a preferred embodiment. In one embodiment, the game pieces have an electric conductor embedded inside and when all pieces are placed in a correct sequence, the electrical circuit is closed and a sound or light is emitted by an electronic device. In another embodiment of the current invention, the corresponding tongues and grooves of the game pieces could be interlocked in the only way to ensure the correct sequence of the assembled pieces.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, that employs a computer to generate puzzle pieces on a computer display, when a puzzle is solved correctly, the whole sequence of characters is displayed dynamically as a stream of transmuted characters.

While the invention has been described relative to a preferred embodiment, it is obvious that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A puzzle game comprising: a) a plurality of game pieces bearing images of alphabet characters, b) a plurality of game pieces bearing images of transmuted alphabet character's shapes with a multitude of game pieces per every pair of adjacent characters of the alphabet, c) an image of the solved puzzle.
 2. A puzzle game according to claim 1 wherein said game employs 4 transmuted graphical shapes per every pair of adjacent characters of the alphabet.
 3. A puzzle game according to claim 1 wherein the game pieces have embedded electrical conductors. When a puzzle is solved correctly, the conductors form a closed circuit that triggers a lighting or sounding device.
 4. A puzzle game according to claim 1 wherein the game pieces are displayed on a computer display. When a puzzle is solved correctly, the whole sequence of characters is played out/displayed dynamically on a said display as a stream of transmuted characters.
 5. A puzzle game comprising: a) a plurality of game pieces bearing alphabet characters of a particular phrase, b) a plurality of game pieces bearing images of transmuted alphabet character's shapes with a multitude of game pieces per every pair of adjacent characters of the said phrase, c) an image of the solved puzzle.
 6. A puzzle game according to claim 5 wherein said game employs 4 transmuted graphical shapes per every pair of adjacent characters of the said phrase.
 7. A puzzle game according to claim 5 wherein the game pieces have embedded electrical conductors. When the puzzle is solved correctly, the conductors form a closed circuit that triggers a lighting or sounding device.
 8. A puzzle game according to claim 5 wherein the game pieces are displayed on a computer display. When a puzzle is solved correctly, the whole sequence of characters is played out/displayed dynamically on a said display as a stream of transmuted characters. 